Etymology

Classification

Distribution

Mid-to-lower reaches of the Ganges and Brahmaputra river systems in Nepal, Bangladesh plus surrounding north-east Indian states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Assam and Meghalaya.

The type series was collected from two localities in India; the Mahananda river near the city of Siliguri (Ganges basin) and Teesta river close to Jalpaiguri town (Brahmaputra).

Habitat

Most commonly found in shallow, slow-moving sections of streams or calm habitats such as swamps, oxbows, backwaters and paddy fields. These are often heavily-vegetated or littered with submerged roots, branches and leaf litter, with substrates composed of soft mud or silt.

Water clarity and depth vary on a seasonal basis across much of its range, and at certain times of year it probably enters temporarily-flooded zones. Conversely during dry periods some habitats may become stagnant with blooms of macrophytic algae and resultant hypoxia (oxygen depletion).

Under such conditions members of this genus are able to use the intestine as a supplementary breathing organ and have been observed darting to the surface to gulp atmospheric air. Some species have even been recorded to survive periods in moist sand or mud in the absence of water.

Maximum Standard Length

Maintenance

Not difficult to keep but must be provided with a soft, sandy substrate since some of its time will be spent completely buried, or with only eyes protruding. When coarser gravel is used it may become stressed or damage itself trying to dig, and feeding behaviour can be inhibited.

Other décor can include water-worn rocks and driftwood branches and tree roots arranged to form plenty of hiding places and shaded spots – add these prior to the substrate to prevent them being toppled by digging activity.

Lighting can be quite dim unless you intend to grow plants and a few handfuls of leaf litter would complement the natural effect.

As this species hails from sluggish waters high flow rates are best avoided although a degree of oxygenation is recommended.

Ensure that small specimens are unable to enter filter intakes and cover the tank well as most loaches do jump at times, especially when first introduced.

Reproduction

L. annandalei is rarely-traded but when available it’s been sold under the name L. sp. ‘peacock’.

Presumably this is in reference to the caudal–fin patterning, unique within the genus and consisting of two dark, v-shaped markings with a dark blotch on the upper base and another towards its outer edge.

Other distinguishing characters include a combination of a truncate, notched caudal-fin; a patch of embedded or absent scales on top of the head; dorsal–fin origin anterior to pelvic-fin origin; moderate to large adult size; relatively short barbels with the first rostralpair failing to reach the anteriornostril.

The fish in the aquarium trade exhibit one or two differences when compared with the original descripition, in particular lacking a notched caudal-fin.

The family Cobitidae, often referred to as ‘true’ loaches, is widely-distributed across most of Eurasia with the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia and China representing particular centres of speciesdiversity.

Phylogenetic analyses by Tang et al. (2006), Šlechtová et al. (2007) and Šlechtová et al. (2008) revealed that the group constitutes a separate genetic lineage to the family Botiidae (the two were previously grouped together under Cobitidae as subfamilies Cobitinae and Botiinae).

In the most recent study Lepidocephalichthys was not found to be as closely-related to Pangio, Lepidocephalus or Kottelatlimia as previously hypothesised though unfortunately the authors stop short of proposing an alternative theory.

All cobitids possess sharp, motile, sub-ocular spines which are normally concealed within a pouch of skin but erected when an individual is stressed, e.g. if removed from the water. Care is therefore necessary as these can become entangled in aquarium nets and with larger species even break human skin.

References

Chaudhuri, B. L., 1912 - Records of the Indian Museum (Calcutta) 7(5): 437-444Descriptions of some new species of freshwater fishes from north India.

Arunkumar, L., 2000 - Journal of Fish Biology 57(5): 1093-1104Loaches of the genus Lepidocephalicthys (Lepidocephalichthys) from Manipur, with description of a new species.

Havird, J. C. and L. M. Page, 2010 - Copeia 2010(1): 137-159A revision of Lepidocephalichthys (Teleostei: Cobitidae) with descriptions of two new species from Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, and Myanmar.

Kottelat, M., 2012 - Raffles Bulletin of Zoology Supplement 26: 1-199Conspectus cobitidum: an inventory of the loaches of the world (Teleostei: Cypriniformes: Cobitoidei).